Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Artemisa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘Artemisa’, characterized by its upright and compact plant habit with relatively short flower stems; short dark green leaves; showy purple-colored flowers; freely flowering habit; and excellent flower longevity.

BOTANICAL CLASSIFICATION

Phalaenopsis hybrid cultivar Artemisa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Artemisa’.

The new Phalaenopsis is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Lochristi, Belgium. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Phalaenopsis cultivars.

The new Phalaenopsis originated from a cross made by the Inventor inJune, 1994, in Lochristi, Belgium, of a proprietary Phalaenopsis hybridselection identified as MFB001 as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary Phalaenopsis hybrid selection identified as MFR035 as themale, or pollen, parent.

The new Phalaenopsis was discovered and selected by the Inventor as aflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlledenvironment in Lochristi, Belgium. The selection of this plant was basedon its compact plant habit and purple flowers.

Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis by tissue culture in acontrolled environment in Lochristi, Belgium, has shown that the uniquefeatures of this new phalaenopsis are stable and reproduced true to typein successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Phalaenopsis has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, daylength, lightintensity, nutritional and water status without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Artemisa’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Artemisa’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Upright and compact plant habit with relatively short flower stems.

2. Short dark green leaves.

3. Showy purple-colored flowers.

4. Freely flowering, about 10 to 15 flowers and flower buds per raceme.

5. Excellent flower longevity, flowers last about 8 weeks on the plant.

Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can be compared to plants of the femaleparent, the selection MRB001. In side-by-side comparisons conducted inLochristi, Belgium, plants of the new Phalaenopsis are more compact,have shorter flowering stems and have more rounded leaf apices thanplants of the selection MRB001. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis can becompared to plants of the white-flowered male parent, the selectionMFR035. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Lochristi, Belgium,plants of the new Phalaenopsis have darker green leaves than plants ofthe selection MFR035.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Phalaenopsis, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Phalaenopsis.

The photograph at the top of the first sheet comprises a sideperspective view of a typical plant of ‘Artemisa’.

The photograph at the bottom of the first sheet is a close-up view oftypical leaves of ‘Artemisa’.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof a typical inflorescence of ‘Artemisa’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view oftypical flowers and flower buds of ‘Artemisa’. Plants in the photographswere about 45 weeks from planting.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned and following observations, measurements, values, andcomparisons describe plants grown in Lochristi, Belgium, in aglass-covered greenhouse in 13-cm containers under conditions whichapproximate commerical Phalaenopsis production conditions. Plants weregrown for about 45 weeks after planting. During the first 25 weeks ofproduction, day and night temperatures averaged 25° C.; during the nextfour weeks of production, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C.;and for the last weeks of production, day and night temperaturesaveraged 22° C. In the following description, color references are madeto The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

Parentage:

Female or seed parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrididentified as MFB001, not patented.

Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Phalaenopsis hybrididentified as MFR035, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—By tissue culture.

Time to initiate roots on a tissue-cultured plantlet.—Summer: About 28days at temperatures of 24° C. Winter: About 42 days at temperatures of24° C.

Time to produce to develop a rooted plant from a tissue-culturedplantlet.—Summer: About 168 days at temperatures of 24° C. Winter: About270 days at temperatures of 24° C.

Root description.—Thick, fleshy, rounded, slightly glossy; about 5 mm indiameter; 138A to 143A in color.

Plant description:

Plant form and growth habit.—Monopodial epiphyte; upright and compactplant habit. Appropriate for 13-cm containers.

Growth rate.—During the summer in Northern Europe, one leaf is formedabout every seven weeks; during the winter in Northern Europe, one leafis formed about every nine weeks.

Plant height, soil level to top of flowers.—About 50 cm.

Plant height, soil level to top of leaves.—About 5 cm.

Plant diameters (longest by shortest).—About 35 by 15 cm.

Flowering stem.—Length: About 50 cm. Diameter: About 6 mm. Texture:Smooth. Pseudobulbs: Not observed. Color: 200A, with very narrow (lessthan 0.1 mm) and short (less than 1 mm in length) light greenish brownstripes.

Foliage description:

Arrangement.—Single, distichous.

Quantity of leaves per plant.—About 6.

Length.—About 20 cm.

Width.—About 9 cm.

Shape.—Elliptic.

Apex.—Rounded.

Base.—Cuneate, sessile.

Margin.—Entire.

Aspect.—Initially erect, then horizontal to arching.

Texture.—Leathery, thick, fleshy and glabrous.

Venation pattern.—Parallel.

Color.—Young foliage, upper surface: 139A. Young foliage, lower surface:70A. Mature foliage, upper surface: 139A; venation, 139A. Maturefoliage, lower surface: 137A with random speckles, 70A, towards themargins; venation, 70A.

Flower description:

Natural flowering season.—January and February in Northern Europe.

Flower arrangement.—Single zygomorphic flowers arranged in terminal andaxillary racemes.

Flower quantity.—Freely flowering; usually about 10 to 15 flowers andflower buds per raceme.

Fragrance.—None detected.

Flower longevity.—Excellect longevity on the plant, about 8 weeks; cutflowers last about 2 weeks. Flowers not persistent.

Flowers.—Height: About 7 cm. Diameter: About 9 cm. Depth: About 7 cm.

Flower buds.—Length: About 2.5 to 3.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 to 2 cm.Shape: Spherical. Color: 77A.

Petals.—Arrangement: Two lateral petals flanking a third centralmodified petal or labellum. Length: Lateral petals: About 5 cm.Labellum: About 3 cm. Width: Lateral petals: About 4 cm. Labellum: About2.5 cm. Shape: Lateral petals: Broadly rounded or obovate; apex roundedwith emarginate tendencies; slightly concave. Labellum: Saccate; deeplythree-lobed. Lateral lobes are elliptic to rounded and fold upwardaround the gynandrium. The central lobe is triangular with two prominentcallosities at the base and two filiform appendages at the apex. Margin:Entire. Texture: Slightly rugose. Color: Lateral petals: When opening,upper and lower surfaces: 80B to 80C; fading to almost white, close to155D, towards the margins. Fully opened, upper and lower surfaces: 80Cto 80D; fading to almost white, close to 155D, towards the margins.Labellum: Lateral lobes: Towards apex, 80B; towards base, 80D to 155D;spots, 80A. Central lobe: Towards apex, 80A; towards base, 80D.Callosities: 9A. Appendages: Distal, 155D; proximal, 80A.

Sepals.—Arrangement: Three in a single whorl. Length: About 7 cm. Width:About 7 cm. Shape: Elliptic to ovate; apex, rounded; uppermost sepalapex with emarginate tendencies; slightly concave. Margin: Entire.Texture: Slightly rugose. Color: Upper surface: 80B, fading towards themargins to 80C. Lower surface: 80A, fading towards margins to 80C.

Pedicels.—Length: About 4 to 5 cm. Angle: Perpendicular to stem.Strength: Very strong. Color: Proximal, 187A; distal, 80D.

Reproductive organs.—Stamens, style and stigma united into a gynandriumwith one terminal anther above the stigmas with pollen grains unitedinto a pollinia. Gynandrium length: About 9 to 10 mm. Gynandriumdiameter: About 8 mm. Gynandrium color: 80B. Pollinia quantity: Two perflower. Pollinia length: About 1.2 mm. Pollinia shape: Oval. Polliniacolor: 25B. Stigma length: About 4 to 5 mm. Stigma shape: Oval, concave.Stigma color: 84C. Style color: 80B fading to 80D. Ovary: Inferior,three-carpelled. Ovary length: About 1 to 1.2 cm. Ovary diameter: About1.5 mm. Ovary color: Close to 155D to 150D.

Seed.—Seed production has not been observed.

Disease resistance: Resistance to known pathogens of Phalaenopsis hasnot been observed on plants grown under commercial productionconditions.

Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Phalaenopsis toleratetemperatures from 15 to 38° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Phalaenopsis plant named‘Artemisa’, as illustrated and described.